Adventure Diving: Blackbeard's Cruises Liveaboards

Reef fish are found on the reefs throughout the chain, but the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is renowned for its protection of the Bahamas' marine life.

David Valencia

Caribbean Reef Sharks

Blackbeard's Cruises offers a couple of shark-dive locations on its itineraries.

David Valencia

Pufferfish

A pufferfish lets a diver know, "Move away!"

David Valencia

Blackbeard's Cruises offers live-aboard scuba diving travel vacations to the Bahamas Out Islands. The Morning Star and Pirate's Lady depart Nassau every Saturday and explore the Exumas and Southwest Eleuthera for a week of live-aboard diving. Sea Explorer departs Freeport for Bimini and western Bahamas and caters to youth groups and scout adventures. The camaraderie and adventure on Blackbeard's Cruises live-aboard dive trips keep divers coming back year after year.

Adventure-seeking divers may be surprised by all the Bahamas' Out Islands have to offer, from shark encounters and wreck diving to deep wall dives and gorgeous coral gardens on shallow reefs. Blackbeard's Cruises offers a fun-filled way to experience these islands, including the Caribbean's largest underwater park, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park still has a healthy breeding population of conch, grouper and lobster. In 1985, the Bahamas National Trust took a bold conservation stance: the Park was made a protected replenishment zone. All fishing is prohibited within the boundaries of the park and as divers, and you will appreciate what this protection has meant to the number of fish species you can encounter there.

The central Bahamas were once the hideout of pirates and privateers —now these islands offer spectacular diving with stunning deserted beaches as a backdrop. Chances are your captain will make a stop at Allen's Cay so you can have the chance to feed the local iguanas. These iguanas are indigenous to the Bahamas and love posing for photos while eating grapes. Another great place to visit is Camp Driftwood — a secluded beach, and for those with more energy, also has trails to follow to the highest point; perfect views from the trail offer amazing photo ops here too.

You'll also dive with sharks at the Austin Smith, watch eagle rays gracefully glide by the walls, and get tumbled around on the high-speed drift dive, the Washing Machine.

The sailboats carry up to 22 passengers in dormitory-style bunks. Trust us: While there isn't a lot of privacy, the fun and adventure more than makes up for it!